How It Works

Seven churches, from a variety of denominations, each take it in turn to offer hospitality and shelter to a group of homeless people, one night a week, for the coldest months of the year. This year we have expanded to include 15 church venues in total. Eight churches host from November 2009 until January 2010, and seven more from February until March 2010. The hosting church offers a hot evening meal, a sleeping space for the night and breakfast the following morning.

Our guests are referred into the project by a number of agencies. Our main referral agency is the Manna Centre, a day centre for homeless people near London Bridge. We also receive referrals from various charities across London and the main homeless organisations in Southwark and Lambeth

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During their time with the project, guests experience some respite from sleeping rough to allow them to concentrate on improving their situation. Agencies continue work with guests they refer. The Robes Project also employs an Advice Worker who meets with guests regularly to support them in accessing benefits, longer-term accommodation and employment opportunities.

 Forty per cent of our beds are reserved for those who will have no access to benefits. This may be because of they are from one of the A10 countries which joined the EU recently, or because of their immigration status – if they are a refused asylum seeker appealing their decision. For these guests there are very few options for longer term accommodation as they cannot access housing benefit.

 Guests have a place with the project for two weeks. Their situation is then reviewed and additional weeks are considered.  Ideally, no single guest would remain within the project more than a fortnight so we can bring others in need into the project to also improve their situation. It is the project’s goal to actively support our guests.